Rate My Professor Tania Datta

Tania Datta is a Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Tennessee Technological University. She earned her Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Utah in 2010, with a dissertation on the evaluation of feasibility, sustenance, and microbial ecology of enhanced biological phosphorus removal in aerated-anoxic activated sludge systems, an M.Eng. in the same field from the University of Utah in 2006, and a B.E. in Chemical Engineering from R.V. College of Engineering, Bangalore, India, in 2002. Her industry experience includes serving as Project Engineer for Wastewater Processes at CH2M HILL in Salt Lake City, Utah, from 2009 to 2012, and Process Engineer for Oil and Gas at J Ray McDermott International in Jebel Ali, UAE, from 2002 to 2004. Datta joined Tennessee Tech as Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering in January 2013, advanced to Associate Professor in August 2019, and now holds the position of Professor. She also serves as Water Security and Sustainability Focus Area Lead at the Center for the Management, Utilization and Protection of Water Resources.

Datta's academic interests focus on biological wastewater treatment process and design, urban water quality management, environmental microbiology, bioenergy production through anaerobic processes, resource recovery from organic waste streams, sustainable decision making, the role of microorganisms in natural aquatic ecosystems, and developing low-cost technologies for water and sanitation in developing countries. Key publications include Kaiser et al., 'Occurrence of Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria in Urban Karst Groundwater Systems' (Water, 2022); Ohemeng-Ntiamoah and Datta, 'Biomethane potential test reveals microbial adaptation and increased methane yield during anaerobic co-digestion' (Bioresource Technology Reports, 2021); Ohemeng-Ntiamoah and Datta, 'Perspectives on variabilities in biomethane potential test parameters and outcomes: A review of studies published between 2007 and 2018' (Science of The Total Environment, 2019); and Esfahani and Datta, 'Nitrate removal from water using zero valent aluminum' (Water and Environment Journal, 2018). She has received the 2023 T.S. McCord Fellow in Innovation and Techno-Entrepreneurship Award from the College of Engineering, 2020 Award for Excellence in Creative Inquiry Mentoring, 2017 Distinguished Service Learning Award, 2015 USAID STRIDE Visiting Professor award to Technological University of the Philippines, and 2014 Outstanding Reviewer recognition from ASCE Journal of Environmental Engineering. Datta contributes to committees such as the College of Engineering Research Advisory Committee and advises student groups including Engineers Without Borders, Water Professionals, and All Ladies in Civil Engineering.